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A Quick Bite: Cafe Rosalena in San Jose

By Amy Pizarro

Correspondent

Posted:
01/08/2013 04:00:00 AM PST

Updated:
01/09/2013 12:03:05 PM PST

Any restaurant's claim of making the "best breakfast burrito in town" raises an eyebrow for me.

Having spent my formative years in New Mexico -- fueled by all kinds of burritos -- I know my way around a tortilla. And my husband has a Sunday morning tradition of making a spicy chorizo and eggs breakfast.

So believe me when I say that Cafe Rosalena's reputation is well-deserved.

This lovely little eatery on The Alameda has been serving breakfast and lunch to loyal fans for nearly 20 years, and many of them arrive hungry for a burrito.

Filling choices are standard -- ham, bacon, sausage or chorizo mixed with eggs and potatoes -- but the quality is high. I picked chorizo ($6) and found the ratio of eggs to the spicy Mexican sausage was balanced just right. There was enough chorizo to enjoy the smoky heat, and enough eggs to keep the filling soft and fluffy.

Crispy, country-style potatoes added heft. While I normally avoid American cheese, sometimes it is oh, so right, and this is one of them. It was melted throughout the burrito, making every bite swoon-worthy. (If the meat isn't spicy enough for you, a dunk into a cup of creamy orange sauce will fix that.)

You also can create your own burrito with avocado, spinach, tomato, mushrooms, onions and jalapeños. Other breakfast options include sandwiches and house-made﻿ quiche, and a full espresso bar will provide your caffeinated needs.

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Be sure to come back for lunch. When you do, try the Warm Chicken Asian Caesar Salad ($9.70), an addicting explosion of flavors and textures that I couldn't seem to eat fast enough. The starring ingredient is tender, marinated chicken, which mingles so well with the buttery crunch of noodle "croutons" and toasted almonds, the sweetness of slivered carrots and the peppery bite of fresh ginger in the dressing.

Speaking of that dressing, it's applied liberally -- this is no diet salad. But it had me practically licking my plate by the end.

Sandwiches are the main lunchtime fare, and there are lots of hot and cold options. Even if you're relieved that December is behind us, you may still enjoy the Holiday Turkey Sandwich ($6.50). Sliced turkey is tucked into a Dutch Crunch roll along with tomato, lettuce and a layer of cranberry sauce. But what sends it over the top is a luscious smear of cream cheese.

The Gourmet Pepper Turkey ($6.50) seems like the kind of sandwich a really awesome mom would put in your lunchbox. The bread is a soft but sturdy sliced sourdough. Inside are mounds of pepper-rimmed turkey breast, simply adorned with lettuce, tomato and onion. Spread on the big squares of bread was a perfect combo of mayo and mustard -- neither too much nor too little of either.

I also recommend the Chicken Alameda ($6.50), starring a grilled chicken filet covered with melted provolone and a delightful sun-dried tomato pesto, which is named for the grand boulevard in San Jose where Cafe Rosalena is located (several sandwich names are inspired by the nearby Rose Garden and Shasta Hanchett neighborhood, which adds to the friendly atmosphere).

The pasta salad is above average, featuring tricolor rotini, carrot slivers and chunks of zucchini, squash and celery, and it wasn't too oily like many pasta salads. The garden salad is as big as the sandwiches themselves; it's made of ribbons of romaine plus green and purple cabbage, carrots and tomatoes.

A few grilled offerings may look like a menu afterthought, but Cafe Rosalena nails the Nybloom cheeseburger ($6.50). The sizable patty of ground beef was juicy, well-seasoned and grilled to perfection, with American and provolone cheeses melted on top.

The burger comes on a sourdough roll that requires a bit of effort in the chewing department, and we briefly wished for the whole thing to magically reappear on a big soft bun, but the result was worth the jaw workout.